Plateau Crisis: Buhari Support Group (BTV) flays redeployment of Major General Atolagbe, OPSH Commander; Wants DHQ to Rescind Decision, Blames Arrest of Killer Fulani Herdsmen for his ordeal.

Supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 re-election project under the aegis of Buhari Tarzarce Vanguard, BTV,  has picked hole in Monday’s redeployment of the Commander of Operation Safe Haven, OPSH, out of Plateau State by the Defence Headquarters.  

The group while appealing to the DHQ to immediately rescind its decision on  the redeployment, said any contrary view  by the latter could give wrong impression by the people of the state, especially natives that the arrests of once untouchable herdsmen  in the state following the recent crisis, was the reason for Atolagbe’s redeployment. 

The group said that though transfers and redeployment of personnel were prerogative of the military high command, such deployments should not be dictated by external influence, adding that Atolagbe’s redeployment at a time he had made significant inroads in curbing the recurring Plateau attacks was not the best decision by the DHQ.   

In a statement signed by its Coordinator, Alhaji Muhamed Biba, and released to the media, Wednesday, the group alleged that the courage displayed by the Commander in arresting the herdsmen involved in recent attacks in the state, was the reason the military authorities moved against the commander. 

To this end, the BTV insisted that unless the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, reversed the Atolagbe’s redeployment, the Plateau people would hold the authorities responsible for any further bloodshed in the state.  

The BTV said its call for the military to rescind its decision in moving Atolagbe out of the state was based on the confidence it reposed in the Commander given the rare courage he displayed in arresting assailants of victims of recent Plateau attacks.  

It particularly appealed to President Buhari to prevail on the military high command to reverse the redeployment, noting that allowing the development to stand would create impression in the minds of the Plateau citizens as a whole that the arrest of herdsmen was the key reason for the military’s action.  

“We are indeed shocked! When we woke up to this reality. Citizens are thrown aback by the decision of the Defence Headquarters to further dent our chances in 2019 by redeploying a focused military officer who was bent on restoring lasting peace to the North Central.  

“This is not only sad, but very disheartening and does not project our great party and Mr. President’s fight against terrorism in good light, “the statement said.  

It added, “How do you redeploy an officer who has made far- reaching positive discoveries on the most challenging and hidden sources of problems bedeviling the entire country? 

What is the reason for his sudden redeployment? 

“Why is the redeployment coming at a time that very critical arrests have been made and useful revelations made indicting prominent people? Why the deployment at a time the opposition and a section are maliciously accusing the Presidency and the North for being behind these herdsmen?  

“Is it that the military high command doesn’t really want an end to this conflict for their game?  

“The president must rise up and stand with the people once again by ordering immediate reversal of the posting of Commander of STF in Jos, this will restore confidence in the entire North Central states.”  

 The statement further said, “Because the security situation was tense at the period, and given the proactive and professional competence the commander displayed to curtail the situation, citizens developed much confidence in his approach to protect lives and property.  

“Indeed, within a few days, he personally relocated his operational base to Barkin Ladi which was at the center of the attacks.  

“While  BTV appreciates the fact that postings and redeployment is a routine military traditions, we must state that  this particular one is done in a bad faith and will greatly affect our chances in North Central in 2019 and the Presidency must act now to forestall further damage.  

“Our party is already facing a lot of challenges in the North Central states due to the farmers/ herdsmen conflicts and if this posting is not reversed immediately, sentiments will rise and will greatly affect our chance, “the statement further said.  

“The question begging for answers is that, why didn’t they redeploy the General before he started making the arrests?  Why the transfer after the arrest of 25 suspects directly connected to the attacks?  

“Why the posting of an officer who has the courage to tackle these criminal herdsmen spoiling the name of the Presidency and our great party?” 

“It is on this premise that we appeal to Mr. President to urgently direct the DHQ to immediately reverse the deployment of the commander of OPSH and equip the STF with more gadgets to do their work”, it added.  

It noted with delight that several arrests were made and were still being made till date, just as it said more importantly, so many heart rending confessions have been made by the suspects taken into custody so far as we learnt.”  

“This singular act of arrest, restored confidence in the public and normal daily routine live was enhanced, “it said.  

The text read further, “In order to follow up and consolidate on the successes, the commander ensured  that meticulous intelligence gathering was top notch and human rights violations were not contemplated at all in his approach,  yet tremendous arrests and successes are being recorded on daily basis and in droves.  

“We are constrained to note that,  upon all these milestone achievements, which are in line with president Buhari’s policy direction on security ,  it was left to be seeing why and how the defense headquarter could contemplate the commanders redeployment at this critical time when opposition are looking for campaign.  

It recalled that, “Exactly two weeks today,  we are inundated  with the unfortunate and disastrous news that Major  General Anthony Atolagbe would be redeployed at the peak of his earth quaking arrests and discoveries which no doubt would bring an end to the continued killings on the Plateau. 

Recall that a fortnight ago, the organization after an extraordinary emergency meeting, issued a communiqué where it called on the president to review the plan to redeploy Major General Anthony Atolagbe. 

 

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